Africa : Withdrawal of AES Countries from ECOWAS, AU Acts as Doctor after Death
Following the withdrawal of the countries from the Sahel Alliance (AES) from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed regret over this decision. He called for concerted efforts to preserve the essential unity of ECOWAS and strengthen African solidarity.
This information was disseminated on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, through a statement relayed on various communication channels.
The President of the AU Commission urges regional leaders to intensify the dialogue between ECOWAS leaders and the AES countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger), expressing the full readiness of the African Union Commission to contribute with all its capacities to the success of a logic of fraternal dialogue.
The withdrawal of the AES countries is considered a historic decision applauded by many Africans aspiring to African sovereignty. However, if the African Union waited for this decision to call for dialogue, it is clear that it did not truly play its role during the crisis in Niger.
What did it do when ECOWAS brandished the military threat against Niger ? Did it really work for dialogue ? The answer is no, as it remained powerless when ECOWAS imposed inhumane sanctions on Niger.
Calling for dialogue today would be “playing the doctor after death.”
The withdrawal of the AES countries from ECOWAS should also be a wake-up call for the African Union. People aspire to a sovereign Africa where institutions defend their interests.
One thing is certain : the AES countries are not ready to reintegrate ECOWAS, an institution that makes decisions without referring to its texts.
